You Wanna Wrestle?

Anyone here have siblings & you used to (or maybe still do) wrestle with them?

Maybe you’re an only child, but you had a great friend you used to wrestle with?

Today we are going to look at what I think is one of the strangest stories in the Bible, but one that has so many treasures we need for our life.

Let’s get locked up with this story & Let’s see how wrestling can change your life!

This story begins a long time before this passage where 2 brothers, Jacob & Esau, sons of a blessed man were born as twins.

Recap of the story:

Jacob swindled his brother, Esau, out of the family blessing and his birthright as the first born son & had to flee for his life from his brother & lived up to his name’s meaning of “Heel Grabber” or “Usurper”

After many years, Jacob decided to try to reconcile things with his brother and sent a caravan of gifts ahead of their meeting to hope to find favor and not be killed by his brother.

Genesis 32:21–31 NKJV

So the present went on over before him, but he himself lodged that night in the camp. And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok. He took them, sent them over the brook, and sent over what he had. Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.” And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.” And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there. So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” Just as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip.

The night before their meeting, Jacob sent everyone across the ford & decided to stay on the other side of the river.

Jacob was alone & then a man shows up and starts wrestling him.

They wrestled all the way until dawn was breaking.

The man was not winning so he touched Jacob’s hip and put it out of it’s socket.

Jacob didn’t quit but said that he would not let go until the man blessed him.

Jacob identified the man he was wrestling as God & was afraid he would die.

We need to take a little side trip and talk a little about wrestling-

Wrestle Like a Dog:

Matthew 15:22–28 NKJV

And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

See the Picture here:

This woman could have been incredibly offended.

She was told, “No.”

She worshipped & was equated to a dog.

Worship (προσκυνέω)

to kiss; to fawn or to crouch; to express in attitude or gesture one’s complete dependence on or submission to a high authority figure

But, maybe that’s not that bad of a thing - being equated to a dog:

Cocoa’s food begging

Don’t get offended with Jesus - just own it & say, “Woof!”

This woman wrestled with Jesus for a blessing like Jacob wrestled with God!

The woman didn’t let go of hope or of faith in the One who could provide the miracle.

Many people get offended with what God says about their life (even if they don’t like it themself).

Some of the unhappiest people get so offended if someone suggests they make a change so they can be happier - they feel judged.

Many people let go of and give up on their miracle even when God never said, “No” - He just said, “Wait.”

I wrestled in High School.

Collegiate wrestling is considered by many to be the toughest sport in the world.

Embrace the Grind: The saying comes from wrestling, and it describes enthusiastically adopting the daily grind (meaning disciplined lifestyle) required of a wrestler.

Embrace the Grind with God!

Here is what will happen if you hold on, don’t give up, and choose to wrestle God:

1) God Changed Jacob’s walk (vs. 24)

An encounter with God should change our lifestyle and the way we walk through life

If you’ve been connected with God, but haven’t really been thoroughly changed in your walk, you’re not done yet.

2) God changed Jacob’s name to Israel (vs. 28)

The name = the person

Jacob means “Usurper” while Israel means “God Perseveres”

God wants to change your identity

1 Corinthians 6:9–11 NKJV

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

3) God blessed Israel (vs. 29)

Blessed - to be granted special favor by God with resulting joy and prosperity

God blessed Israel after He changed His walk & His Identity

God blesses our changed life, not our old life.

Just One Thing:

Don’t get offended by what God says about your life - Get locked up with God and don’t let go until He changes your walk, changes, your identity, & blesses you!

Discussion Questions:

What riddles do you know?

What impacted you the most from this sermon? Share a little bit about that and why it impacted you.

Please Read Matthew 15: 22-28 and share what impacts you about this account of this very persistent woman.

How is your wrestling match going with God? Share a little bit about your stamina in the “fight”, your walk, your identity, & your blessing.